While the generals’ credentials listed at the end of the article are impressive, Gen. Manson neglected to mention that since leaving the air force in the ’80s he has been involved in many private aerospace companies. This includes serving as the chairman of Lockheed Martin Canada, the Canadian branch of the U.S.-based multinational that is building the F-35 stealth fighter that will profit handsomely from the $16 billion to $21 billion of taxpayers’ money the program will cost.

While this fact in no way disqualifies the generals from sharing their opinion, it is an important truth about the F-35 debate that the stealth fighters’ strongest backers are the military and the aerospace companies. In fact, it’s getting awfully hard to tell them apart.